Veterans & Military Personnel

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Congressman Courtney To Host Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Ceremony In Honor Of Veterans

On October 19, 2017, Congressman Courtney will be hosting a Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Ceremony to honor all United States Vietnam-era veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces between November 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975, regardless of location.

“As members of the Connecticut federal delegation, we are writing in reference to a news story in The Day on Saturday, September 2, 2017, which detailed disturbing allegations from minority cadets alleging that an atmosphere of racial hostility exists on campus,” wrote the members. “As strong supporters of the Academy and its historic role of producing the Coast Guard’s leadership, we are sure you agree that a meaningful, transparent response is required to further advance the institution’s mission. We recognize that the Academy has been engaged in a concerted effort to boost minority enrollment over the last eight years and has shown significant progress in the numbers at the time of matriculation. Higher admission rates have to be coupled with robust retention in order to ensure a higher graduation rate for minority cadets so that Coast Guard leadership ultimately reflects the multicultural makeup of the country’s population. Ensuring that the Academy’s environment and culture are free of any racial animus is critical to achieving such an outcome.”

"The Doyon family's tragic loss of their beloved son Dustin who was ably serving in our nation's defense is a loss for every American. His decision to volunteer to join the Navy, and put himself in harm’s way for his country showed his patriotism and caring for others, which we should all revere and honor.”

“The VA’s decision to continue to deny care and benefits to blue water Vietnam veterans is unacceptable and I am glad that Secretary Shulkin indicated that they may be taking action to correct this,” wrote Courtney. “Like many veterans in my district who regularly share their concerns about this issue with me, I am deeply disappointed in the VA’s continued refusal to cover blue water veterans who served on ships offshore during the Vietnam War. That’s why I continue to push for action to right this wrong for our Navy veterans suffering to this day from exposure to this toxic chemical.”

“President Trump’s statement apparently banning transgender members of the military, even those now serving, is the height of irresponsibility. His tweet was issued at the same time the Department of Defense is undergoing a six-month comprehensive review of the policy allowing transgender Americans to serve in the military. Undercutting their work, and setting military policy by tweet, is reckless and disrespectful in the extreme."

“The scandals that have rocked the VA in recent years are a national disgrace, and I’m proud of the work Congress has done since these revelations to improve services for our veterans,” said Courtney. “While Connecticut has not seen some of the outrageous scandals that have plagued other areas of the country, it is clear that the continued challenges at the VA demand further Congressional action. I’m glad both sides of the aisle have come together to improve accountability for VA employees who are not acting in the best interests of our veterans. Our veterans have earned the highest level of care and respect, and this bill helps to ensure that the best employees will be in place to care for them. They deserve nothing less.”

Congressman Courtney to Host Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Ceremony in Honor of Veterans

On March 24, 2017, Congressman Courtney will be hosting an inaugural Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Ceremony to honor all United States Vietnam-era veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces between November 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975, regardless of location. The 50th commemoration ceremony will coincide this year with Vietnam Veterans Day, which is celebrated annually on March 29.

“Incredibly, on Friday, with one stroke of the pen, President Trump slammed the door shut on that program because he cancelled all visa programs from Iraq. If anyone could imagine a more demoralizing way to undercut the anti-ISIL alliance at such a critical time, Friday’s order won the prize and we are hearing from military commanders who are over there in Iraq talking about the blowback that’s come from our allies that were literally underway in real operations in real time. We in Congress need to stop this order for the sake of our standing in the world as a beacon of hope and freedom, and if for nothing else, to support our troops and our allies in harm’s way.”

“One of the top priorities for my staff and I is to work one-on-one with constituents who struggle with federal agencies,” said Courtney. “Almost every day we hear from a local resident who faces a crisis in their life because government red tape prevents them from receiving their hard-earned benefits. Whether we are helping to secure retroactive benefits for a retired veteran, or helping a young family obtain a mortgage modification, each of these cases is about more than a dollar figure – they are real people trying to make ends meet, and I am proud that we are able to help make that happen. I urge any eastern Connecticut resident facing difficulty when working with the federal government to contact my office to see if we can be of assistance.”